I purchased the Lacrosse Big Chief non-insulated hip boots and tried them out on a 4 mile hike the first weekend through swamps and flatland brush. The next week I tried them out on a 15 mile hike, 2000 vertical feet up, 2000 vertical feet down. With Sock liners plus wool socks, my feet did not get any blisters. It was 45 degrees out and I sweated enough to get my pants and socks damp. I got one chafing at my knee. I was wearing rain pants over the hip boots so that the boots would not fill up with water. Excellent grip around the ankle, no blisters on a long 15 mile hike, fairly quiet. Excellent buy